Two row bent evaporator

ABSTRACT

A core ( 26 ) extends through a circular bend ( 28 ) greater than 180 degrees to define a first leg ( 30 ) between the bend ( 28 ) and an inlet manifold ( 22 ) and a second leg ( 32 ) between the bend ( 28 ) and an outlet manifold ( 24 ). The legs ( 30, 32 ) are disposed in converging relationship from the bend ( 28 ) towards the manifolds ( 22, 24 ) to define an acute angle (α) between the legs ( 30, 32 ). The manifolds ( 22, 24 ) are aligned in juxtaposed relationship along an alignment axis (Y) and the legs ( 30, 32 ) are disposed in angular relationship to a reference axis (X) to define first and second drainage angles (Θ 1 , Θ 2 ) between the corresponding legs ( 30, 32 ) and the reference axis (X). The second drainage angle (Θ 2 ) is &gt;10 degrees and the first drainage angle is (Θ 1 )&gt;20 degrees and the acute angle (α) is &gt;10 degrees for draining condensate along the legs ( 30, 32 ) toward the juxtaposed manifolds ( 22, 24 ) to establish a common drainage point of the condensate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a heat exchanger assembly including acore extending through a bend for greater heat transfer capacity.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The heat exchanger assemblies to which the subject invention pertainsare systems which include overlapping or double flows of working fluidto improve performance while minimizing space requirements. The designand manufacture of such a heat exchanger normally includes a first heatexchanger in fluid communication with a second heat exchanger. However,complex and costly communication manifolds are required to establishfluid communication between the first and second heat exchangers whileoptimally containing the pressures normally occurring in such systems.As a result, it is common to bend the core of a heat exchanger toprovide the functionality of a heat exchanger with overlapping or doubleflows of working fluid while eliminating the complexity and costlimitations of conventional communication manifolds.

One such heat exchanger assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,870to Hughes, et al, wherein the heat exchanger assembly includes an inletmanifold and an outlet manifold and a core extending between themanifolds for conveying a working fluid from the inlet manifold to theoutlet manifold. The core extends through a bend to define a first legbetween the bend and the inlet manifold and a second leg between thebend and the outlet manifold for arranging the heat exchanger in a U orV shape.

Although the prior art heat exchangers are able to establish overlappingor double flows of working fluid without the use of conventionalcommunication manifolds, there remains a need for a heat exchangerdesign which improves condensate drainage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides for a bend extending through a circular bendgreater than 180 degrees for disposing the legs in convergingrelationship from the bend towards the manifolds to define an acuteangle α between the legs.

One advantage of the invention is that the heat exchanger assembly canbe inclined in both horizontal and vertical airflow systems forincreasing the heat transfer while also providing positive drainagetoward both manifolds. In addition, the vertical juxtaposition of themanifolds provides for a common drainage point of the condensate at themanifolds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated,as the same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger assembly;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the heat exchanger assembly disposed in avertical airflow system and illustrating the first and second legsdisposed in angular relationship to a reference or horizontal axis X andthe inlet and outlet manifolds aligned in juxtaposed relationship alongan alignment or vertical axis Y; and

FIG. 3 is an edge view of the heat exchanger assembly disposed in ahorizontal airflow system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views, the invention comprises a heatexchanger assembly 20 generally shown including an inlet manifold 22 andan outlet manifold 24 being cylindrical and extending in spaced andparallel relationship to one another. A core 26 extends between themanifolds 22, 24 for conveying a working fluid from the inlet manifold22 to the outlet manifold 24, and includes a plurality of tubes 28extending in spaced and parallel relationship to one another between themanifolds 22, 24. The core 26 also includes a plurality of air fins 30extending back and forth between adjacent ones of the tubes 28 topresent a serpentine pattern extending between the adjacent tubes 28.The inlet manifold 22 defines an inlet port 32 for receiving the workingfluid, and the outlet manifold 24 defines an outlet port 34 fordispensing the working fluid.

The core 26 extends through a bend 36 to define a first leg 38 having afirst length L₁ between the bend 36 and the inlet manifold 22 and asecond leg 40 having a second length L₂ between the bend 36 and theoutlet manifold 24. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inlet and outletmanifolds 22, 24 are aligned on an alignment or vertical axis Y forreceiving the flow of air in a transverse direction successively throughthe second leg 40 and the first leg 38. Typically the bend 36 will beplaced at or close to the midpoint of the core 26 between the manifolds22, 24, but the bend 36 may be offset as required. In the preferredembodiment, the bend 36 extends through a circular bend 36 greater than180 degrees for disposing the legs 38, 40 in converging relationshipfrom the bend 36 towards the manifolds 22, 24 to define an acute angle αbetween the legs 38, 40.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first and second legs 38, 40 are disposedin angular relationship to a reference or horizontal axis X extendingperpendicular to the alignment axis Y to define a first drainage angleΘ₁ between the first leg 38 and the reference axis X and a seconddrainage angle Θ₂ between the second leg 40 and the reference axis X fordraining condensate along the legs 38, 40 toward the manifolds 22, 24.Accordingly, the acute angle α between the legs 38, 40 is equal to thedifference between the drainage angles (Θ₂-Θ₁). As shown in FIGS. 2 and3, the heat exchanger assembly 20 can accommodate the needs of bothvertical and horizontal airflow systems while positioning the inlet andoutlet manifolds 22, 24 close together to facilitate simple systemplumbing and condensate drainage from the manifolds 22, 24.

In the preferred embodiment, the second drainage angle Θ₂ is equal to orgreater than 10 degrees and the first drainage angle Θ₁ is equal to orgreater than 20 degrees and the acute angle α is equal to or greaterthan 10 degrees for improving condensate drainage along the tubes 28toward the manifolds 22, 24. In addition, the first length L₁ of thefirst leg 38 is less than the second length L₂ of the second leg 40 foraligning the manifolds 22, 24 in juxtaposed relationship along thealignment axis Y for establishing a common draining point of thecondensate at the juxtaposed manifolds 22, 24.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing form the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising; an inlet manifold and an outletmanifold, a core extending between said manifolds for conveying aworking fluid from said inlet manifold to said outlet manifold, saidcore extending through a bend to define a first leg between said bendand said inlet manifold and a second leg between said bend and saidoutlet manifold, and said bend extending through a circular bend greaterthan 180 degrees for disposing said legs in converging relationship fromsaid bend towards said manifolds to define an acute angle α between saidlegs.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inlet andoutlet manifolds are aligned on an alignment axis Y for receiving theflow of air in a transverse direction successively through said secondleg and said first leg.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 whereinsaid first and second legs are disposed in angular relationship to areference axis X extending perpendicular to said alignment axis Y todefine a first drainage angle Θ₁ between said first leg and saidreference axis X and a second drainage angle Θ₂ between said second legand reference axis X and said acute angle α is equal to the differencebetween said drainage angles (Θ₂-Θ₁) for draining condensate along saidlegs toward said manifolds.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3wherein said first leg has a first length L₁ between said bend and saidinlet manifold and said second leg has a second length L₂ between saidbend and said outlet manifold and said first length L₁ is less than saidsecond length L₂ for aligning said manifolds in juxtaposed relationshipalong said alignment axis Y for establishing a common draining point ofsaid condensate at said juxtaposed manifolds.
 5. An assembly as setforth in claim 4 wherein said second drainage angle Θ₂ is equal to orgreater than 10 degrees and said first drainage angle Θ₁ is equal to orgreater than 20 degrees and said acute angle α is equal to or greaterthan 10 degrees.
 6. A heat exchanger assembly comprising; an inletmanifold and an outlet manifold being cylindrical and extending inspaced and parallel relationship to one another, a core extendingbetween said manifolds for conveying a working fluid from said inletmanifold to said outlet manifold, said core including a plurality oftubes extending in spaced and parallel relationship to one anotherbetween said manifolds, said core including a plurality of air finsextending back and forth between adjacent ones of said tubes to presenta serpentine pattern extending between said adjacent tubes, said inletmanifold defining an inlet port for receiving the working fluid, saidoutlet manifold defining an outlet port for dispensing the workingfluid, said core extending through a bend to define a first leg having afirst length L₁ between said bend and said inlet manifold and a secondleg having a second length L₂ between said bend and said outletmanifold, said first and second manifolds being aligned on an alignmentaxis Y for receiving the flow of air in a transverse directionsuccessively through said second leg and said first leg, said first andsecond legs being disposed in angular relationship to a reference axis Xextending perpendicular to said alignment axis Y to define a firstdrainage angle Θ₁ between said first leg and said reference axis X and asecond drainage angle Θ₂ between said second leg and said reference axisX, and said bend extending through a circular bend greater than 180degrees for disposing said legs in converging relationship from saidbend towards said manifolds to define an acute angle α between said legsequal to the difference between said drainage angles (Θ₂-Θ₁), said firstlength L₁ of said first leg being less than said second length L₂ ofsaid second leg for aligning said manifolds in juxtaposed relationshipalong said alignment axis Y for establishing a common draining point ofsaid condensate at said juxtaposed manifolds, said second drainage angleΘ₂ being equal to or greater than 10 degrees and said first drainageangle Θ₁ being equal to or greater than 20 degrees and said acute angleα being equal to or greater than 10 degrees for draining condensatealong said tubes toward said manifolds.